Ability
King James Dictionary [1]
ABIL'ITY, n. L. habilitas, ableness, fitness, from habeo, to have or hold.
1. Physical power, whether bodily or mental natural or acquired force of understanding skill in arts or science. Ability is active power, or power to perform as opposed to capacity, or power to receive. In the plural, abilities is much used in a like sense and also for faculties of the mind, and acquired qualifications. 2. Riches, wealth, substance, which are the means, or which furnish the power, of doing certain acts.
They gave after their ability to the work. Ezekiel 2 .
3. Moral power, depending on the will - a metaphysical and theological sense. 4. Civil or legal power, the power or right to do certain things, as an ability to transfer property or dispose of effects - ability to inherit. It is opposed to disability.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [2]
ABILITY . In AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘ability’ is either material ( Leviticus 27:8 , Ezra 2:69 , Acts 11:29 ) or personal ( Daniel 1:4 , Matthew 25:15 ) capacity. The mod. meaning (‘mental power’) is not found in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] .
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(n.) The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity; skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill, resources, etc.; - in the plural, faculty, talent.
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [4]
See Inability
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
a - bil´i - ti ( δύναμις , dúnamis , or ισχύς , ischús ): Variously used of resources, material, mental and spiritual; e.g. of wealth, "gave after their ability" ( Ezra 2:69 ); of mental endowment, "ability to stand in the king's palace" ( Daniel 1:4 ); of talents and character, "several ability" ( Matthew 25:15 ); of spiritual strength, "minister, as of the ability which God giveth" (the King James Version 1 Peter 4:11 ). It thus may signify either possessions, native capacity, or gifts of the Holy Spirit.
